794 
vinced that this technology can be developed and there is, I feel, a very 
reasonable chance. 
There are always technological obstacles, but we believe that we 
have the team and that enough work has been done, many millions 
of dollars spent over the last 7 years, so that it is technologically 
feasible and we will be able to recover these materials from the sea 
floor and get the metals out. 
_ The economic feasibility will depend upon a great many factors, 
including the metal market, primarily, but also such things as tax 
structure, such things as the international regime which was faced 
and discussed in depth in the Stratton report, and fundamentally, 
sir, my purpose in bringing you this progress report was to make you 
aware that the deliberations of your committee relative to the Strat- 
ton report are essential to our environment, the business environment 
in which we will be operating in the seventies. 
Your decisions regarding the Stratton report will be very impor- 
tant 1n determining this environment for us. 
Mr. Lennon. Now, sir, being as familiar as you are with the Strat- 
ton Commission Report, are you in a position that you can comment 
on any of their specific recommendations especially related to their 
recommendation of the Government structure and a national ad- 
visory commission ? 
Could you give us your views with respect to the private enter- 
prise industry thinking as to those two recommendations made by 
the Stratton Commission Report ? 
Mr. Furese. I think that I certainly can speak for Deepsea Ventures 
and I hope that it will represent a cross-section of industries’ opinion. 
The Commission’s suggestion that there be an advisory committee 
is uniformly well received. 
We believe this isa very important step. 
Mr. Lennon. You mean the National Advisory Committee ? 
Mr. Friese. Yes, sir, the National Advisory Committee. Certainly 
I do not consider myself expert on the organization of the Govern- 
ment offices but I do feel that it is important that the oceanographic 
program in the Government be given central direction, that there be 
a consistency in the program not the on and off that frequently char- 
acterizes the budget scramble when the direction is divided in many 
different departments. 
I feel that if the oceanographic effort in the U.S. Government is 
consistent, it is projected, well grounded and the expectations are 
realized year by year, that this will create instrument companies, 1t 
will create service organizations and so on which will be very 1mpor- 
tant to our success. 
We should be able to turn to electronic companies with oceano- 
graphic capability so that we can get the necessary components to 
put our equipment together, and they can exist best in an environ- 
ment where the future is at least indicated and where Government 
programs are conducted consistently and without the danger of los- 
ing their funding from year to year. ; 
Mr. Lennon. Are there any other corporate enterprises comparable 
to the one that you speak: for here today similarly engaged in the 
program that you have related or disctissed here today ? 
